Die Fitososiologie van die Steenbokpan omgewing in die noordwes-Transvaal

Abstract

The vegetation of the Steenbokpan area is differentiated into two main units, namely Arid Sweet Bushveld and Mixed Bushveld, at a scale of 1:250 000. In The Arid Sweet Bushveld six plant communities are identified and in the Mixed Bushveld three communities. The classification of the plant communities by means of the PHYTOTAB-PC program, is confirmed by pattern analysis of a LANDSAT-image, and by ordination of the data matrix by means of detrended correspondence analysis {DECORANA). The main environmental parameter that explains the relationship between the plant communities is effective soil depth. A community composition analysis, done with PHYTOTAB-PC, serves as basis for the community descriptions. The effect of tree density and cover on the other growth forms is investigated, and an ecological veld evaluation (EVE) method, on the basis of dynamic interaction between the different growth forms in savanna, is proposed.